10 tips for becoming a gentlemanly exec

Is there a place for gentlemen (and gentlewomen) in today's go-go, go get-'em business world? London Times writer William Drew thinks so. Here are his tips for those aspiring to bring a little class to the workplace.

In a recent article in the London Times, William Drew asks, "Is the gentleman a dying breed?" In the piece, Drew quotes Yann Debelle de Montby, brand director at Alfred Dunhill, the tony men's outfitter. "Being a true gentleman," he says, "means being gallant and generous. One can be gentle but remain firm, determined and retain a great sense of humour."

But does the gentleman have a place in today's go-go, go get-'em business world? Drew thinks yes. "Old-fashioned good manners — holding open doors, standing up when someone enters the room, asking questions of others rather than talking about yourself, ensuring that you compliment your host generously and so on — are an entry point for respectful behavior," he notes. "But it's more about your overall manner towards others: how one conducts oneself not only socially, but also in business, in relationships and in public."

But being a modern-day gentlemen in business is about more than just being nice for nice's sake, especially when the chips are down. Says luxury goods retailer, Trevor Pickett: "When your back's against the wall in any industry you fall back on the relationships that you have built with people. You can't do that if you've just screwed them on price, for example. That's just not the way we do things."

I, for one, shall be doing my level best to flirt with everyone much more often.

How about you?

Do you think it's important to act like a gentleman or gentlewoman in today's IT environment? Do your bosses, co-workers, and users typically exhibit good manners — or bad? Do you try to behave according to the principles outlined above, or do you think they represent an outmoded concept?